STRONG CRITICISM.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 April 1918, Page 8

STRONG CRITICISM.

EVIDENCE BEFORE DEFENCE COMMISSION. Strong criticism of some branches. of the Defence Department Avas given in eA'idence before, the Defence Expenditure Commission at Falmeraton North last week. Captain F. Hudson, New Zealand Staff Corps, and at present adjutant at Awapuni Medical Camp A\a,si one witness called (reports the Manawatu Standard). He had been ' editor of tlie "New Zealand Military Journal," and on the outbreak of war was as-sistant-inilitai'v secretary tor nearly a year. He afterwards went to Egypt and France. Prior to coming- to New Zealand lie had nine years' service m the British Regular Army. He wasi invalided back to New Zealand with a chattered arm. Witness said there were many able officers in New Zealand, but* several of them Avere put in positions! in small towns. Men avlio were regular soldiers, with much experience; were drawn in the ballot, and their knowledge Ava,s to some extent wasted. After nine years' training in the British Regular Army and seven yearr, in New Zealand he was appointed to a non-combatant camp, but he did not desire to cast anv reflection'on the Awapuni Camp. "Witness contended that territorial officers in New Zealand should not be sent away except as officers: it' a man was made an officer, he should remain an officer.

The chairman said that if .tills were so a territorial officer would be sent away OA-er the headsi of men who had been a, long time earning their commissions, at the front.

Witness said lie would not bring a man down from commissioned rank to be a warrant officer, although he would bring a man down from major to second-lieutenant if necessary. He had seen officers, non-oomiTiissioned officers, and men waiting for their pay together, and this was not conducive to discipline. Witness complained of the large proportion of Territorial officers on the staff of General Headquarters. He considered that the trained men should be at tha brains of the Army—at Headquarters—instead of being placed in minoY- positions, The pay department was, in his opinion, in a terrible muddle. A great saving, addl'd witness, could be effected if local officers were appointed to some of the positions held by oversea officers. Only one military district (the Wellington one) was under the command of a. regular trained officer; the other three were under Territorial officers. Witness suggested that the staff officers in New Zealand could be sent.away for (say) three months at the front, and then brought back. Mr. Rhodes: Then there would T>e a howl!

away m one instance at Featlierston It common-sense were used and things were not run so much to schedule a considerable saving could lie effected. The system of Sling Camp could be profitably adopted. There was no waste and the food was very Avell cooked. Orders in Featlierston were carried out just because they were orders.’ He urged that men with special qualifications should be kept

Witness: Not from the staff; they are not allowed to howl. Witness considered that the positions of camp commandant and adjutant at ston and Trentliam should be held by New Zealand regular officers. It was

for jobs for which they were best suited, regardless of sentiment. He cited the case of a New Plymouth accountant who would have suited the pay staff admirably, but who had enlisted as a private with the infantry.

a mistake to put some of the returned officers into administrative positions. Private Jackson said that he had been trained in New Zealand, and had been twelve months in France before being invalided home. Prior to enlisting he had a. responsible position with the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Although' over age. and with two sons on active service, lie bad enlisted with the intention of going rs an n.co., but subsequently went as a private. Witness said that, there was heavy waste with dry rations. Bad cooking and lack of order at Featherston resulted in joints which would feed a family and tons of porridge go-iiig into the pig tub. Sugar and milk were not put on the table, and the porridge was all sweetened. The result was that men who disliked sweetened porridge threw it out. He had seen nine aacks of bread thrown